UPDATE: Charlotte brush fire chases residents, starts season

Firefighters battled a large blaze northeast of the Rotonda West subdivision, as officials caution that wildfire season is just starting

STAFF REPORT

UPDATE...The morning after a large brush fire in Charlotte County forced the evacuation of numerous homes northeast of the Rotonda West subdivision, emergency management officials warn that the wildfire season is just starting.

Wednesday morning, county officials met and braced for the upcoming blazes. The area already had been declared under a “red flag warning” for the day, with dry conditions making brush fires possible.

Just hours later, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a fire in Punta Gorda about 2 p.m. Then, shortly after 3 p.m. another call came in reporting the even larger blaze at Rotunda.

This morning, firefighters are continuing to monitor both areas for any rekindling brush.

“This is the kickoff of wildfire season,” said Wayne Sallade, Charlotte County's director of emergency management. “We have a very difficult couple of months coming up here.”

There were numerous homes in the evacuated zones, with houses on four streets evacuated and additional streets closed off. None of the Rotunda homes were damaged and the residents were allowed to return Wednesday night after the fire was contained.

At the Punta Gorda fire, two unoccupied structures, a traveling trailer and a mobile home, were destroyed. Four or five units had responded to the fire, which covered over about 500 acres. By Thursday morning, more than 90 percent of the fire was contained.

Sallade said the crews broke command last night about 8 p.m. at the Rotunda site, although crews were on scene overnight. Additional crews will be in the same area again today, as the winds have picked up again.

The fire, which Sallade said was the largest they have fought in several years, drew crews from Sarasota and other counties, including a five-engine contingent from Collier County. More than 30 pieces of equipment, not including the helicopter, were on the ground during the fire.

The area that caught fire was a heavily wooded area. With winds kicking up and humidity dropping, Sallade said the drought index is indicating this will be just the first fire of the dry season. Water resource managers have warned the area may fall into drought conditions.

Sallade said the fire was “our biggest most dangerous” for several years. Luckily, no one was injured by the fire, with palm trees bursting into flames.

“We had some tired firefighters but nobody needed any transport,” Sallade said.

Since there were no thundershowers, and lightning, Sallade said it is likely the fire was started by humans. Fire officials will continue to investigate the start of the fire.

Sallade said residents should be alert and “fire-wise.”

“It’s making sure that clearing out pine straw from the gutters, keeping the grass trim, watering the grass when you can,” Sallade said. “This is critically important, having the fire department to have 30 feet of defensible area around your house.”

Keeping yards clear of dry brush and debris, trimming back palmetto bushes and overhanging pines away from the roof of homes, he said, can protect firefighters and help them save homes.

“I saw some real heroic efforts of humans standing between houses to keep back the fire,” Sallade said.

With emergency crews responding to two major fires, Dee Hawkins, spokewoman for Charlotte County Fire, said the county resorted to a “total recall” response, contacting all off-duty personnel to rotate with the fires and other emergencies. Even during two large fires, medical calls and vehicle accidents do not stop, she said. Nearly two dozen deputies were also called in to manage traffic for the evacuation and road closures.

Responding to two major fires is “very taxing” and resource intensive, Hawkins said, who was out at the scene of the Rotunda fire.

“Before crews even arrived on scene, they could see a large column of smoke,” Hawkins said.

She said the blaze was in a unique area, with a number of brand new homes integrated into lots with empty spaces nearby, filled with dry debris and fuel.

She said the fire, and the response, was very, very rapid. By 6 p.m. the crews at the Rotunda fire had 50 percent containment of the blaze, despite 10 to 30 mph gusts of wind.

Hawkins said the overnight crews handled fires at Rotunda around 1 a.m. and another about 6 a.m., too small to even qualify as flare ups, with smoldering stumps sending up some flames.

EARLIER...Sheriff's deputies on Wednesday afternoon evacuated numerous homes northeast of the Rotonda West subdivision because of a large brush fire. The Sheriff's Office reported receiving a call about the blaze shortly after 3 p.m.

The fire grew to about 60 to 70 acres. Winds of 20 to 25 mph that caused the fire to spread phased out by early evening, helping firefighters gain control.

By about 6 p.m., the blaze was about 50 percent contained, Charlotte County Fire spokeswoman Dee Hawkins said.

The Sheriff's Office helicopter with a bucket assisted, as did firefighters from 13 agencies in Sarasota, Lee and Collier counties. The Red Cross also arrived.

Some of the roads blocked are in the area of Ingraham, Antilla, Antis, Apollo, Basswood and David. Drivers on Gasparilla Road are advised to use caution due to the smoke conditions.

ORIGINAL...Charlotte County sheriff's deputies are evacuating some homes northeast of the Rotonda West subdivision because of a large brush fire. The Sheriff's Office reported receiving a call at 3:08 p.m.

Charlotte County and Englewood firefighters are battling the blaze. The Sheriff's Office helicopter with a bucket is heading to the fire, which is west of Gasparilla Road. Some of the roads blocked are in the area of Ingraham, Antilla, Antis, Apollo, Basswood and David. Drivers on Gasparilla Road are advised to use caution due to the smoke conditions.

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